Customer Reviews

Photograph: The Very Best of Ringo

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Proving that The Beatles' fame reached to all four corners of their post-break-up careers, it was lovable lug Ringo who became the most successful solo Beatle early in the game. His 1973 "Ringo" was the first ex-Beatle album to sell massively and had two number one singles, "Photograph" and the cover of "You're 16." His Beatle personality, that of the likeable, easygoing and cheerful everyman, and his light and fun pop made for great hits.

While the first two albums, "Beau-coups of Blues" and "Sentimental Journey," were exercises in style (and there is nothing here from "Journey"), it was the Richard Perry and Vini Pocia produced extravaganzas of "Ringo" and "Goodnight Vienna" that caught the public's fancy. Having all your famous friends and ex-bandmates added an air of spectacle. Elton John was at his 70's peak when he and Bernie Taupin donated "Snookeroo" and the excitement was contagious.

Unfortunately, the excitement was also substance fueled and began to take a toll. Ringo left longtime home Capitol and signed with Atlantic for "Ringo's Rotogravure," which was another star studded affair but lacked any power. "A Dose of Rock and Roll" and a cover of "Hey Baby" are here, but the following albums are completely passed over. Even Ringo, in the liner notes, saying "I can't even tell you if it was a great experience because a lot of it is...gone."

It took Neil Bogart to help Ringo snap out of it, and he signed him to Boardwalk Records. George Harrison wrote "Wrack My Brain" for "Stop and Smell the Roses," becoming Ringo's last US hit. While his All Starr Bands have kept him on the radar, the albums from "Time Takes Time" on have been mostly unheard. Of the remaining songs, his tribute to George Harrison, "Never Without You," is as good as Harrison's "All Those Years Ago." It's also a treat to hear Ringo and Buck Owens do "Act Naturally" as a duet.

It is a real joy to hear some of Ringo's better latter day songs along with upgrades on those early classics. The oh-so-seventies sound of "Back Off Boogaloo" and "It Don't Come Easy" will make you nostalgic for a sound that has moved on, the sort of free-wheeling exuberance that brought songs like "I'm The Greatest" a smile-cracking sense of fun. At his best - both as a Beatle and on his own - that is what Ringo brought to music.

Finally a proper best of collection from Ringo. As always, I could argue about what was left off but why bother. No collection ever pleases everybody! The songs have obviously been remastered (the earlier ones anyway) as they sound incredible. My only real complaint is that the count in to both Oh My My and Snookeroo have been edited out. Why???
Both were released as singles with the count ins intact.

Now for the real treat-There is one really big PLUS to this collection. The single edit of It's All Down To Goodnight Vienna is making it's cd debut with Lennon's count in still there!!!!
Overall, a great single disc of some of Ringo's finest material.
Now, isn't it time for George to have an up to date "Best Of" as well?

Finally, Ringo gets his due with a remastering of his greatest hits. Some really good songs on this and its nice to listen and hear the sound of George's and John's guitar on some of these songs. Ringo may have been the luckiest Beatle in that the other three would always lend him a hand. Talk about "With a Little Help From My Friends." Thanks for giving the greatest Rock'n'Roll drummer a better greatest hits than his original. Now get the Beatles back catalog remastered and into the public's hands.

So many people argue over Ringo's importance to popular music. Although not truly a songwriter. We can thank George for a few of Ringo's self penned hits. And classics they are. Photograph, It Don't Come Easy to name a couple. But really what does it matter. Ringo was and is the most famous Drummer in history. Without his simple yet innovative drumming the Beatles would not of been the Beatles, period. He is an enormous talent who happens to be charming, funny and extremly listenable. This is a classic greatest hits cd of his solo music. Some songs may be dated but that doesn't take away from the warm pleasure or enjoyment of these finely crafted pop songs. Take a stroll down memory lane. You can't go wrong with the remastered set. Pure Pop enjoyment from a man who helped make this world a better place. Blessings to you Ringo !!

Well Beatle fans here's another one for the CD rack. Ringo wasn't the strongest solo Beatle musically, but this compilation is in fact quite good. The songs are light and breezy and fun. There's also a gem in here titled "Weight of The World" along with a tribute song to the late George Harrison.
If you're a Beatle fan like me you'll need this disc to instantly update your solo Beatles collection.

Without getting into a whole lot of solo Beatle history, "Photograph, The Very Best Of Ringo Starr", is essentially the most comprehensive collection of his solo career available. This disc makes the dated "Blast from Your Past", obsolete. All the big hits are here to enjoy, but you also get the rocking "Goodnight Vienna", "Snookeroo", "Hey Baby", and "A Dose Of Rock n Roll". We all know Ringo recorded "Act Naturally", during his Beatle days, but his duet with Buck Owens on this tune is nothing short of phenominal rockabilly at its best. The sound quality of this recording is top notch, and at 20 tunes, it is in my opinion, a must have for Beatle fans everywhere. A nice informative booklet and many photo's are included, making this a real nice cd that will bring back many memories.

Ringo Starr, the least talented Beatle, is an incredibly talented vocalist, drummer and lyricist evidenced by the great songs on this anthology. Ringo's a very emotional and sterling vocalist whose songs resonate with joy, levity, melancholy and reflection. His vaudville style has always been alluring and entertaining. He seems to be heavily influenced by Macca evidenced by his crafsmanship, stellar production and pop optimism. Obviously their vocals are much different sounding. Ringo's last four albums "Choose Love", "Ringo Rama", "Vertical Man" and "Time Takes Time" are all excellent meaning he has stayed in prime form in his late 50's and 60's. Ringo is a bona fide pacifist who cares deeply about human rights, the environment, animal welfare and vegetarianism. He has alot in common with MACCA even though they are not extremely close. However, their bond will be for eternity.

This is a *must have* album for both serious and casual fans of Ringo Starr.

Although it is more of a 'Greatest Hits' / 'Singles Collection' rather than a true 'Very Best Of' compilation, it does include all of Ringo's most commercially popular songs amongst it's genorous 20 tracks.
However, with 14 of those tracks dating from the first 6 years of Ringo's solo career, it could be seen as being only a minor upgrade of his 1975 "Blast From Your Past" compilation. But who cares, these are great songs!

The 'Collectors Edition' version of this album is well worth the extra cost, as it includes a DVD disc containing rare music clips for several of the songs.

In my opinion, "Photograph" is one of the very best songs any ex-Beatle has given us, and it is great to see Ringo receiving this acknowledgement of his often much under-rated musical career!
Ringo... you keep making them and I'll keep buying them. Thanks for your music!!

This is happy music. It puts you in a good mood. There was a time when that was considered a merit.
The songs sound clear and warm on this disc.
The booklet is great. What makes it great is that Ringo Starr gives a little background about each song. He is very honest about the circumstances behind the making of each song, and, of course, he is gently humorous in these descriptions.
This is well-played pop music.
Paul McCartney's kazoo solo on "You're Sixteen" is Absolut showbiz. You'll love it.
Eric Clapton's guitar work on Ringo's tribute to George Harrison, "Never Without You," is intricate and sincere.
"Snookeroo," a track written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, features Elton John on piano and one listen will convince you that this should have been the A-side of a single. It's got really good lyrics about a dysfunctional family: "Snookeroo, Snookerooo/Daddy's goin' on the booze/Mother used to cut my hair/Sister used to make the news."
"Snookeroo" was the flipside to "The No No Song," which was "Margaritaville" before "Margaritaville" was written. (Or maybe at exactly the same time.) It's a funny, funny song.
"It Don't Come Easy" is as good as anything Ringo did with That Group. It's philosophy holds up and it has soul to spare.
So does "Weight of the World."
This CD looks good, sounds good, and so it must be said: It is good.

Covering Ringo Starr music from 1970 to 2007, the C.D. PHOTOGRAPH comes in a deluxe package including Starr's written commentary on each track, a few words of wise perspective from Quincy Jones, musician credits, chart records, and some cool pictures. One photo from 1973, Ringo resting on has back, makes him look positively hip, a far cry from his happy-go-lucky, nice, safe, Beatle image.

This C.D.'s credits include talents we have lost such as George Harrison, John Lennon, Harry Nilsson, Billy Preston, Nicky Hopkins, Pete Ham, Tom Evans, Arif Mardin, Buck Owens, and Hoyt Axton. Ringo has proven the vertical man and remembering the great musicians, so many who died too soon, makes PHOTOGRAPH a bittersweet listen, especially since over half its selections are from Ringo's 1971-74 recordings when most of those players, songwriters and producers worked with him.

PHOTOGRAPH includes nothing from Ringo Starr albums SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY, RINGO THE FOURTH, BAD BOY, SCOUSE THE MOUSE, OLD WAVE, I WANNA BE SANTA CLAUS and his many concert titles. Rare Starr tracks such as "You Never Know" (from the movie CURLY SUE), "Down and Out" (the rockin' flip side of the "Photograph" 45) and "Band of Steel" (with country-folk musician Guthrie Thomas) would have added appeal. At least "Act Naturally," Ringo's duet with Buck Owens, makes the cut. Since releasing PHOTOGRAPH in 2007, Starr has made one new studio C.D., LIVERPOOL EIGHT.

After all these years, the 1975 Ringo Starr collection BLAST FROM YOUR PAST still offers Starr's best-known post-Beatles songs. PHOTOGRAPH includes all the titles from that album, so if selections from Starr's 1970-2007 career interest you, this ain't a bad place to start.

My short list of Ringo Starr recommendations: RINGO (the C.D. version contains the single "It Don't Come Easy"); GOODNIGHT VIENNA (C.D. version includes the single "Back Off Boogaloo"); OLD WAVE; TIME TAKES TIME; VERTICAL MAN; and RINGO-RAMA.